DANCING IN THE DARK

Around half an hour later,�

Ryu opened his eyes and blinked as he tried to adjust to the dark surroundings. He could make out outlines of objects and realized that he was in his room.

�A dream?� He shook his head slightly. �But I could swear I felt his strong arms around me and his breath on my lips��

Ryu howled as he fought the urge to literally kick himself, �Where did that come from?�

A thought struck him and he hurriedly peered down at his state of dressing. Much to his relief, he was still fully clothed. More importantly, there was no suspicious aching pain in his lower body, which he hoped, meant that he still had his virginity.

The door sprang open suddenly and Ryu found himself leaping into a defensive posture. �Whaa��

*You ok there, Keiin-kun?� Kuroda peered at Ryu with great concern.

�Keiin-k�kun?� Ryu blushed furiously as he tried to focus on hating the young millionaire.

�I figured that you blacked out of hunger�since I reckoned I heard your stomach growling�� Kuroda waved a ladle as he beamed.

Then, Ryu noticed the apron tied loosely over Kuroda�s black pants and grey stiff shirt. �He looks sexy��

Ryu kicked himself mentally again and buried his head under the blankets.

Kuroda hid a knowing grin as he called, �I cooked porridge�get up and eat!�

Ryu obediently trudged out of bed and plopped down on a chair in the dining area near the common kitchen.

�I�m not really good at cooking�but I think my porridge is passable?� Kuroda winked merrily as he gently placed a bowl in front of Ryu.

�Erm�smells great.� Ryu admitted grudgingly.

�Try it!� Kuroda rubbed his hands together gleefully, much unlike his mature appearance.
Ryu threw Kuroda one last wary glance before tasting a mouthful.

�How is it? How is it?� Kuroda peered at the empty spoon and looked expectantly at Ryu.

Ryu was taken aback at how intently Kuroda was staring at him and he felt the same familiar blush creeping up his neck again.

�Erm�it�s really delicious�� Ryu had to nod his approval at the simply appetizing bowl of porridge.

�Really??� Kuroda whooped in delight.

Ryu grumbled under his breath as he put away the dishes after his late dinner.

�What are you still doing here? It�s after 9pm! Go home!�

Kuroda stood up from his chair where he had been sitting and enjoying Ryu�s slim back frame. He went forward and wrapped his arms around Ryu�s waist posessively, pulling the latter close to his chest and resting his head on Ryu�s firm shoulders.

�Hey!� Ryu tried to shrug off the taller guy to no avail.

�I will leave. Only after I finish saying what I want to say.� Kuroda whispered seriously into Ryu�s ear.
Ryu shuddered in pleasure at the sensation and stayed still.

�I want you to be my koi.� Kuroda continued in the same low whisper, �My lover.�

Ryu froze in stunned silence.

Kuroda bit his earlobe lightly before finally letting him go. �I left a letter on the table. Read it for more explanations. I�ll be leaving now. Take care.�

Ryu was still in the same spot and only turned around after he heard the soft click of the main door shutting.

Shakily, he reached out for the letter.

--

�Ryu-san,

When you�re reading this letter, I would have mustered up enough courage to tell you that I am attracted to you.

I chanced upon seeing you dance a week ago when I was present at a dancing event showcase, which my company sponsored. Fascinated, I have not been able to rid you off my mind.

I am not afraid to confess, that I have been checking up on you. Your past, you present, I crave to know more. Perhaps, you�ll think this a cruel joke. But please take me seriously.

Even if you doubt, we could give it a try shouldn�t we?

Will you be my koi?

Give me your answer tomorrow night at the same caf�. I will wait for you until midnight. Perhaps, you would accept me. Or you might even want to reject me outright in person? I await your reply, no matter what, Keiin-kun�

Faithfully,
Masaya Kuroda�

--

Ryu found his hands trembling despite his desperate attempt to concentrate on recollecting his feelings again.

Why did this guy, Kuroda had to appear to mess up his life? Had he not suffered enough complications?

On the other hand, he had always craved to crush the harsh loneliness residing in him. Could this be his chance?

He was tempted to totally forget about Kuroda�s existence and pretend that nothing ever took place. He needed someone to confide in. But his senior, Gen Yamada, and the person he was closest to in Tokyo and the Academy, was out partying and probably sashaying his ass while swinging away on the bar top.

Letting out an aggravated growl, he stormed his way back to his room and slammed the door. No one had made him feel so self-conscious and enticed before. It was pure bliss for Ryu to know that someone recognizes his existence and not only his talent in his dimming image. Refusing to admit that he needed to feel desired and the comfort of being in someone�s arms.

Ryu gazed at the letter for the nth time and wished his heart would stop threatening to pound out of the rib cage.

A single tear fell and he wondered why did it. Whispering lightly into the brilliant darkness of his room and the night, �Damn you, Kuroda�you�d better not be lying��

--

Kuroda nodded to his chauffeur as he got into his sleek black limousine. He relaxed against the cool leather seats and sipped a glass of champagne.

�Found someone new?� the chauffeur and his trusted confidante chuckled dryly.

�Fujimoto, don�t make me out to be some playboy will you�?� Kuroda protested in low tones.

�Right�more like some lust-infused sex maniac�� Fujimoto muttered as he drove Kuroda back to his private apartment in the expensive residential district of Tokyo.

�But this time, I happen to find him interesting�� Kuroda insisted as he shot Fujimoto a weary glare.

�You heart-breaker�how many victims have you claimed?� Fujimoto jested.

Kuroda just shrugged and skirted the issue, �Human emotions are fragile strings. They�re meant to be broken.�

Fujimoto shook his head in disapproval but chose to remain silent, in hope as not to incur Kuroda�s wrath by mentioning the affair that had made him evolve into this cold and unfeeling man with a lying front.

Chapter 5